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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348026176258 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • lotto_ng@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "SHELL LOTTERY INC." <shellwinningnotificationunit@msn.com>
Reply-To: lotto_ng@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 04:54:11 +0000
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE.

                     AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE.

Ref UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
Ticket number: 564 75600545 188
Serial number 5368/02 
Lucky numbers: 19-6-26-17-35-7

Good day!
My name is Michael David, the prize director representing the Shell International Lottery Corporation's Un-Claimed Department. On December 20th, 2005 at approximately 3:45pm, I tried contacting you, but unfortunately was unable to get a hold of you. The main reason for electronically mailing you this letter is to inform you of the reason for my call. Every year we receive over 5,000 entry forms from different lottery players from around the world. Precisely speaking, I was just looking at our network to find out that you were selected as a prize winner on November 24th, 2005 and you havn't claimed your winnings, for the sum of US $1,000.000 MILLION DOLLARS. Usually when a winner doesn't claim their money there should be a note that says why the winner has not claimed their money, and the client file will be closed. So I am mailing in regards to know why you have not made any effort to claim your money. You have $1,000,000 Million sitting here, waiting for you. I dont know why somebody will wait that long to claim their money?? To elaborate more, this draw was held in Australia, where our head office is located. Moreover, if we did not hear from you within 3 weeks from the day this letter was sent, your file will close and you will no longer be able to claim your winnings. Our main payment office is located in North America. This is where you will be receiving your amount of winnings US$1,000.000 MILLION DOLLARS from. Nevertheless, according to the federal and international law concerning the personal collection of prize winnings, your bonding fees, broker fees, and tarrif fees, have already been deducted from your winnings. So congratulations once again.

For more information concerning your winnings, please contact your Claims Agent

Mr. SEGUN OGUNJOBI or BARR. JAMES 
Email:  lotto_ng@yahoo.com
Tell:   +234-80-26176258

when is a better time to get a hold of you. Due to security precautions, we advise that you keep your winning information confidential until your claim has been processed and you have received your certified bank cheque of $ 1,000.000 million dollars paid out to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and Lot numbers in every correspondence with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claim agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of our promotional program.

YOU ARE HEREBY ADVICE TO FILL THIS DATA TO CLARIFY IF YOU ARE THE RIGTH PERSON THAT WON THE AWARD

1. Name
2. DATE OF BIRTH
3. SEX:
4. MARITAL STATUS:
5.CONTACT ADDRESS
6.TELEPHONE NUMBER:
7.OCCUPATION:
8.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF
COMPANY

LOT NO: EMD987UYT
REF NO: PDP/2670198402/03

   Best regards, 
   MR MICHAEL DAVID.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam